8193. 'Marching before the camp of Israel' means which involved the Church's truths and forms of good. This is clear from the meaning of 'the camp' as truths and forms of good; for 'the camp' means the whole assembly of Israel, and 'the assembly of Israel' means all forms of good and truths in their entirety, 7830, 7843, and for this reason also 'an encampment' means an arrangement as determined by truths and forms of good, 8103(end), 8130, 8131, 8155. As for 'Israel', that the spiritual Church is meant, this has been shown quite often.

8103. 'And they travelled from Succoth and encamped in Etham' means the second state after they were delivered. This is clear from the consideration that the travels and encampments of the children of Israel after they had departed from Egypt mean the spiritual states of those delivered by the Lord, who have been the subject above. A change of state is meant by each journey from one place to another, and by each stopping-place. The second state is meant here by travelling from Succoth to Etham, since the first state was meant by travelling from Rameses to Succoth, 7972. Also by 'travels' in the internal sense of the Word states and established patterns of life are meant, 1293, 3335, 5605, and arrangements of truth and good which have to do with life by 'encampments', 4236.